Implement recommendations of mayors summit - Rawlings
Former President Jerry John Rawlings has advised participants in the just-ended fourth world summit of mayors and leaders from Africa and of African descent to ensure that the decisions taken at the summit are implemented.
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He said they should endeavour to walk their talk instead of allowing the recommendations and decisions to remain on the shelves.
He gave the advice at the closing ceremony of the summit in Accra yesterday.
The summit was attended by the Global Alliance Executive Committee and African Renaissance and Diaspora Network members, mayors, leaders from Africa and of African descent.
The theme for the three-day conference was “Cities leading sustainable human development and economic empowerment for Africa and the Diaspora”.
Among some of the issues discussed were “partnership between Edison learning, Inc. and the Global Alliance; Challenges and opportunities for gender equality and women’s empowerment; Youth employment and youth entrepreneurship as key drivers in the economic growth of cities and affordable services; as well as “Enhancing child survival and development in the post-2015 development framework and the role of city governments”
Respect protocol
Flt Lt. Rawlings underscored the need for state functionaries to respect protocols.
He made reference to an incident where President John Mahama was to open the summit but could not come and delegated the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Hannah Tetteh, to do that on his behalf.
He said he immediately drew the attention of the Mayor of Accra, Mr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, to the situation got the Vice-President to read President Mahama’s speech instead.
He consequently asked the State Protocol Department to ensure that the command structure of the state apparatus was adhered to at state functions and programmes.
Plan development of cities
Flt Lt. Rawlings also stressed the need for the mayors across the world to plan how to develop their cities.
He urged them to join hands in modernising their respective cities, adding that modernising cities did not rest on only mayors.
He said that would also require leadership, planning and a sense of direction, as well as boldness and the right mindset.
He urged the mayors to also educate their subjects on appropriate sanitation practices.
Empower the people
Flt Lt. Rawlings called on the leaders to empower their people not only economically but socially and politically for them to be able to defy wrong and defend freedom and justice.
He appealed to the leaders to stay connected to their people and serve their needs and advised them to eschew corruption by tackling it from the top to the bottom.